Press Releases

First Life Prizes Gala Sets Precedent as Nobel Prizes of The Pro-life Movement

More Than 1200 VIPs, Students and Activists Gathered to Honor Greatest Pro-Life Heroes

Natick, MA - The Gerard Health Foundation hosted its first Life Prizes awards ceremony and reception on Friday, January 23rd at the stunning National Building Museum in Washington, DC. The event was attended by more than 1200 guests (including 500 students) and was held to celebrate six of the pro-life movement's greatest heroes for their exceptional work in upholding the sanctity of human life and to award them a combined $600,000 in prizes.

In true Oscar-like fashion, the spectacular evening inspired the hearts and spirits of guests and included introductions by Master of Ceremonies Laura Ingraham, nationally syndicated talk radio host; and live musical performances by popular Christian rock band BarlowGirl, and the D.C. Boys Choir. Presentation of the award statuettes - cast bronze statues of a woman cradling a baby commissioned as original art and created by sculptor Tom White - were followed by acceptance speeches by the six award recipients; concluding remarks by Gerard Health Foundation President Raymond Ruddy; and a reception offering gourmet food, beverages, and a chance for guests to mingle and congratulate the winners:

• Jill Stanek - Nurse who first publicly exposed infanticide of abortion survivors
• Lila Rose - Student leader who has launched several successful, undercover investigations exposing statutory rape cover-up and racism at Planned Parenthood
• American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG) - A professional voice reaffirming the unique value and dignity of individual human life in all stages of growth and development from conception onward.
• Richard Doerflinger - Associate Director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, bioethics expert, and consummate researcher
• Kay Coles James - Founder of The Gloucester Institute and of Black Americans for Life, pro-life advocate in the highest levels of government for decades
• Margaret "Peggy" Hartshorn - President, Heartbeat International, a preeminent network of more than 1,000 pregnancy resource centers

"Our honorees tonight are not exceptional people, they are ordinary people who heard the whisper and said 'I can'," said Raymond Ruddy in closing remarks in a reference to Ralph Waldo Emerson, "So, let every one of us resolve to answer the call to save those lives the world has called not worthy. Every one of the winners will tell you, you can do it if you simply try."

Visit www.LifePrizes.org to for a full description of the program, Award winner bios and speech excerpts.

To interview Cathy Ruse, Executive Director of Life Prizes, please contact Colleen O'Boyle at (703) 683-5004 ext. 122